Credit: Imago

Declan Carr

Mon 27 April 2026 10:10, UK

Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall has revealed that the Everton squad have held talks over an issue that threatens to derail their season.

David Moyes‘ side looked to be in contention for the European places, but that has come under threat after two consecutive losses.

The Blues were defeated by arch-rivals Liverpool and then West Ham, with both sides scoring winning goals after the 90th minute.

That has put them in 11th place, although they are only one point behind eighth-placed Chelsea with four matches to go.

If Everton are to achieve their ambitions, they need to sort out the problem that the 27-year-old has highlighted.

What is Everton issue that Dewsbury-Hall identified?

Everton conceded from set-pieces in both of those matches, that is the issue which Dewsbury-Hall raised.

Virgil van Dijk’s late winner in the Merseyside derby came from a corner, as did Tomas Soucek’s opener for the relegation-threatened Londoners.

The Toffees star has told the media that the team recognise the issue, and have held talks in the dressing room over it.

In quotes reported by the Liverpool Echo on 2 April, he said: “Teams are looking at us like we’ve got a weak link on set-pieces at the moment.

“It’s something we need to look at next week and work harder on because they’re killing us at the moment.

“Of course it’s been mentioned in the dressing room. Everyone should know that, everyone needs to take accountability and everyone has got a job.”

Who is at fault for Everton vulnerability?

Jordan Pickford needs to be more commanding in his area when set-pieces are floated in, but that is not the only issue for Everton, there is a much more pressing matter.

The likes of Michael Keane and James Tarkowski should be dominating and reaching the ball before the opposition.

The former wins 62 per cent of his aerial battles while the latter wins 71 per cent, per Sofascore, so they are typically brilliant when it comes to dealing with the ball in the air.

However, it was Tarkowski who was beaten for both the Reds’ winner and the Hammers’ opening goal, which is not good enough for a defender of his quality.

Whether it is a lack of fight or simply just being outmuscled or outfoxed, that will not get the L3 outfit over the line in their pursuit of European football next season, and something needs to be done about it.

That may be extra work in training, or just being more alert on matchdays, but it needs to be fixed and it needs to be quick.

Updated 24/7 with expert analysis from the heart of Goodison Park.